The members of the Cooperative for Tais, Culture and Sustainable Development (Cooperativa Tais, Kultura, Desenvolvimento Sustentavel or CTKDS) are based in three remote communities in Lautem, eastern Timor Leste. It is run and operated by women, with the main beneficiaries of CTKDS activities being women of all ages, as well as their local communities. The Co-op comprises three weaving collectives; Feto Kiak Buka Moris (Poor Women Looking for Life) in central Los Palos and Materestu (The Survivors) and Feto Faluk Buka Moris (Widows looking for life) in the mountainous sub-district of Iliomar.

CTKDS has 86 female members who come from the poorest and most disadvantaged families in the region; approximately 25% of female members were widowed during the Indonesian occupation, literacy is low and many members have limited access to farmlands.

Political and social challenges in East Timor have caused many changes in the nature of CTKDS as an organisation. In September 2008 a new cooperative structure was adopted to consolidate the three weaving groups and CTKDS was formed with endorsement and support from key stakeholders and local political leaders.

The new structure aims to decentralise control and instigate more open and transparent processes, particularly around finances and decision-making. The principles underpinning CTKDS operations are based on Fulidai-dai, a social concept unique to the Makalero people of Iliomar which promotes cooperation, honesty, openness, mutuality and equality.

CTKDS and ETWA work in reciprocity towards empowerment and sustainability for women in Los Palos and Iliomar. This relationship is a major strength.

CTKDS’s main activities are tais weaving, Community Development, advocacy and education, micro-finance and Cultural Tourism. It has no salaried employees, although there are 86 female members. As a Cooperative, CTKDS operates on a profit-sharing/ commission basis.

CTKDS is governed by a Cooperative Board consisting of three representatives from each of the three weaving collectives (9 members, selected and appointed by collective members), a field monitor (based in Dili; liaises with ETWA) and a local political representative (village/ aldeia chief or local government rep depending on availability). The Cooperative Board is a forum for transparency and a place where the weaving collectives share ideas, money is exchanged openly and reports are gathered and passed on to ETWA. Local systems of social accountability and financial reporting processes ensure transparency.